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20/20 works with major names across a range of sectors including BP, Centrica, Transport for London, BAE, Rolls Royce and AMEC as well as public sector organisations.

Its training facilitators and consultants provide open-course and in-house training and there is also an online learning platform.

The 20/20 board decided that employee ownership was the right move for the enable the engagement of employees to take the business to achieve its long-term goals.

Initially employee ownership was considered as part of 20/20’s succession planning strategy and after founding director Tony Marks attended a succession masterclass run by Cooperative Development Scotland (CDS), he decided to make the plans a reality.

Marks said: “We had developed a future leaders programme with the eventual aim of preparing some of our staff to oversee business operations.

20/20 Project Management chief executive officer Tony Marks

“Myself and two fellow directors were the three main shareholders in the business and we still hadn’t resolved the issue of realising the value of our individual shares.

“Hearing first-hand about the process and experience of becoming employee-owned really helped us understand the potential benefits, and we agreed it was an effective solution to our succession issues.

“The prospect of a more engaged workforce and a culture which encouraged greater innovation really appealed to us. We held a team meeting to tell our staff, and the news was very well-received.”

He said that employee ownership allowed the three directors to stay in the business while it developed the company's future leadership team.

He went on: “ We hope that with a highly-invested workforce, the company will continue to grow and succeed well into the future, with all employees sharing in the rewards.”

Emma Davidson, 20/20’s employee trustee, added: “The employees see this as a very positive thing and are collectively looking forward to building on 20/20’s business success for years to come.

“By becoming an employee-owned company, we feel empowered to create an environment that suits us as a workforce, ultimately increasing our productivity to bring 20/20’s success to the next level.”

An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has been formed and holds 61% of the shares on behalf of the employees with the option to acquire the remaining shares in the future. The transition to employee ownership was supported by Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS), with the process managed by Ownership Associates, legal services provided by MacRoberts and accounting services by Campbell Dallas.